7.11.13

England's Home Grounds 1900-1937

As we have seen, England played their home matches at 21 different grounds between 1873 and 1900. During the 1900-1937 period 10 of these grounds saw further national service (Bramall Lane (Sheffield), The Victoria Ground (Stoke), Anfield (Liverpool), Molineux (Wolverhampton), Ewood Park (Blackburn), Goodison Park (Liverpool), Crystal Palace (London), Roker Park (Sunderland), Ashton Gate (Bristol),Villa Park (Birmingham)). Additionally England played internationals at a further 19 grounds:

22. The Dell, Southampton

A 3 - 0 win over Ireland on 9th March 1901 was England's only appearance at The Dell.

24. Fratton Park, PortsmouthPortsmouth's ground hosted it's only international as Wales were beaten 2 - 1 on 2nd March 1903.

25. Ayresome Park, MiddlesbroughBoro's old home hosted 3 internationals in a 32 year period, statrting with a match v Irreland on 25.02.05 which Ireland did well to draw 1-1.

26. Craven Cottage, London Fulham's one and only taste of international football came on 18.03.07 as England and Wales drew 1-1. The Cottage was the 5th London ground to stage an England match.

27. Park Avenue, Bradford

In their first season of league football Bradford FC (commonly known as Park Avenue) also saw their ground drafted into international service, hosting a 4-0 victory over Ireland on 13th February 1909. This was the only international played at the venue.

28. The City Ground, Nottingham. The great footballing city of Nottingham has only ever hosted 2 international matches- this was the second-Wales the visitors beaten 2-0 on 15th Mar 1909.

29. The Baseball Ground, DerbyThe only international played at Derby County's former home- a 2-1 win over Ireland, 11th February 1911.

30.The Den, London Vivian Woodward scored twice as Wales were beaten 3 - 0 on 13.03.11- The only international played at the home of The Southern Leagues' Millwall.

31. Stamford Bridge, London Stamford Bridge had originally been developed as a potential national stadium/ cup final venue. The FA Cup Final was played there on 3 occasions from 1920-1922. The ground was only used 3 times for England matches, the first being a 1-0 win over Scotland on 5.4.13.

32. Highbury, London The Arsenal Stadium hosted it's first international on the resumption of the British Home Championship after the 1914-18 War. Wales ran out 2-1 winners on 15th March 1920.

33. Hillsborough, Sheffield Scotland, 10th Apr 1920, 5 - 4 at

The Wednesday had been playing at Hillsborough (then known as theOwlerton Stadium) since 1899. In 1914 the ground was redeveloped and re named. Remarkably only 2 England matches have been played there, the first being the visit of Scotland (10.4.20) which England won 5-4.

34. The Hawthorns, West BromwichHome to 2 internationals, the first being a 2-0 win over Ireland on 21.10.22.

35. The Empire Stadium aka Wembley Stadium, London The Empire Stadium was considered the spiritual home of football. And yet, in the 16 years between its opening and the outbreak of the Second World War Wembley only hosted 7 internationals, all between England and Scotland, The first, on 12th April 1924, ended in a 1-1 draw.

36. Selhurst Park, London

Crystal Palace's ground is another 'one cap wonder'. It was an unlucky venue for England. Wales celebrated a St David's Day win there in 1926, 2 goals from Swansea Town's Jack Fowler setting up a 3-1 win.

37.Old Trafford, Manchester

A frequent home venue for England in the early 21st century , the ground only hosted 2 internationals before the 1990s.The first international played at Old Trafford was on April 17th 1926, Alex Jackson giving the visitors a 1-0 win.